Halloween II – Tyler Mane

Rob Zombie’s Halloween was a resounding success upon its release in 2007, grossing eighty million dollars at the box-office, with the fans embracing his updated, relentless take on the classic story of Michael Myers. In Halloween II he completes the story, following the aftermath of Myer’s murderous rampage through the eyes of heroine Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor Compton).
I spoke with Tyler Mane, who returns to the role of the villainous Michael Myers, about playing this iconic character.

Tyler Mane, who returns to the role of the villainous Michael Myers

Did you feel you played the role differently this time?

Yeah, basically I expanded on it and just intensified the performance, because I wanted to make sure that every kill and scene was dirty and gritty, more realistic and vicious. But then I also wanted to get the innocence of him as he traveled on his journey for the two year time period back to Haddonfield.

When you’re on the set do you keep away from the other actors, being this terrifying presence, or do you just chat with everyone?

I just go about my business and have a good time, joke around and lighten the mood, I’m just me, and then when I put the mask on it’s a whole different ballgame.

Did you do a whole back story to Michael Myers?

Basically it’s all done in the first movie where it shows how he became a product of his environment. That’s one of the things that Rob wanted to make sure people knew, how Michael Myers turned out like he did, and why. And in this it’s continuing for the two year period up until the fateful Halloween night.

Were you disappointed that your character never got to speak in either film, or do you think that would have taken the mystique away?

That’s a very good question. It’s hard to say. I know people are so indoctrinated into not hearing him speak. He is a very physical character and I wanted to give him his depths through his body movement. I think there are some key moments where he should have, or could have said something, but it was not for me to say. And then again, how would he say it because he hasn’t spoken for all those years. Once he quit talking to Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) he hasn’t said anything since. So it’s a very good question.

In some of the movies he seems supernatural because he just disappears?

Scout was saying you were very protective of her, so are you protective of all the actresses you’re throwing around?

The villainous Michael Myers (Tyler Mane)

Yeah, the most important thing is safety and security and I guess I get that from my years as a professional wrestler, taking care of the person that you’re working with. Because, God forbid, I don’t to ever hurt anyone, especially when you’re wielding knives around and throwing people around, you’ve gotta have safety first.

Is it just weird to turn the friendship off, and try to kill Scout?

We’re both professionals, and like she said the first time I put that mask on, ‘I don’t need any motivation, I’m getting the hell out of here.’ Let’s face it, if you have a 6’8” guy with a mask chasing you with a big, huge knife, what are you going to do? Sometimes she made me work too hard to catch her.

Did you like horror films when you were growing up?

No, no, as a matter of fact when I saw Jaws when I was a little kid I didn’t even want to go into the bathtub. So I wasn’t a very big horror fan, but then since then I’ve come to appreciate them.

Knowing now how the scenes are done, does it make it easier to watch films like this?

Yeah, you have a better understanding of that. But when it’s all cut together and pieced together with the sound effects and the music, when I saw this I jumped a few times. I was like, ‘Damn, I’m sick.’

Do you have a favorite horror films?

Yeah, Halloween and H2. A lot of the horror movies are kind of cheesy and unrealistic, and that’s why I wanted to do this one because the realistic factor is there. And with this you get to see inside the mind of a serial killer, you see how Michael Myers perceives himself as that young boy who’s getting ready to go trick-or-treating, total innocence before all hell breaks loose. And he thinks he’s talking to the only person who ever loved him (his mother), so it kind of brings out the whole warped factor, so you kind of see how he thinks and how he’s driven.